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Bristol’s loss percentage of 78.94 against Gloucester is their worst against any team they have played more than twice.

But while Bristol’s record against the Cherry and Whites may be only slightly more successful than Pompeii’s against Vesuvius, there have been some highlights along the way.

Ahead of Friday’s Aviva Premiership meeting between the West rivals at Ashton Gate, we take a look at those memorable matches.

Bristol 29 Gloucester 26 – February 2008

An “appalled” Dean Ryan apologised to Gloucester’s supporters after his table-toppers squandered a 17-9 lead at the Memorial Stadium to suffer only a fourth defeat of the season.

After James Simpson-Daniel, Jack Adams and Anthony Allen had put Gloucester in front, Bristol stole a 23-17 half-time lead through Scott Linklater and Jason Hobson, before Jason Strange and Willie Walker traded shots at goal in the second period.

This was the game where Strange dropped his ‘other’ goal against Gloucester – one that no one really remembers. His 66th-minute drop put the hosts 29-20 up, before Walker’s late penalties reduced the deficit and saved a losing bonus point for the visitors.

Bristol's Jason Strange drops the match-winning goal against Gloucester in November 2006

Bristol 14 Gloucester 12 – November 2006

The iconic Bristol victory of the Premiership era will be remembered for Strange’s drop goal, deep in injury-time, which ended Gloucester’s unbeaten start to the season and briefly sent Bristol top of the table.

On as a late replacement, Strange came up with the goods – his first successful drop goal for Bristol – after the forwards protected the ball for phase after phase in the driving rain.

“It was my first drop goal for Bristol,” Strange told the Bristol Post in November, 10 years on from the memorable night. “We would set up ‘what if?’ scenarios after every team run – we would manipulate two or three phases and then have a drop goal to win the match. And pretty much 99 per cent of the time, I would miss! So I don’t think I was the only one who was surprised when it went through the posts that night. I remember the atmosphere and the post-match celebrations – it was a special time and something I will never forget.”

Dan Ward-Smith celebrates after Bristol sealed what remains their only Premiership win at Kingsholm in March 2006 (Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)

Gloucester 15 Bristol 20 – March 2006

Bristol took a big step toward securing their Premiership status for the following season by surprising Gloucester at Kingsholm – their only win at Kingsholm in the Premiership era.

Simpson-Daniel scored inside two minutes as Bristol made a nightmare start, before Shaun Perry sneaked down the blindside to edge Bristol in front. After Allen restored Gloucester’s lead, despite prop Terry Sigley seeing red for stamping, Brian Lima scored the decisive try to give Bristol a famous win. Gloucester boss Ryan took the blame, while his Bristol counterpart, Richard Hill, praised his forwards’ heroic effort.

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Bristol 18 Gloucester 9 – January 2001

At the sixth attempt, Bristol claimed a first Premiership win over Gloucester, beating them at the Memorial Stadium early in 2001. Bristol trailed 9-6 at half-time to three Simon Mannix penalties, but the hosts’ defence – and Felipe Contepomi’s boot – took over in the second half.

Bristol did not concede a single point after half-time, while their Argentinian superstar landed five penalties to finish with an 18-point haul as Bristol finally got that first Premiership win against their old rivals.

Jason Strange drops his 'other' goal against Gloucester in Bristol colours - the less well remembered effort in February 2008 (Image: David Rogers/Getty Images)

The overall record

Bristol first faced Gloucester in September 1892, having initially faced a Gloucester A team two years earlier. The teams have met 221 times, with Bristol winning 83, Gloucester winning 120, and 18 draws.